Modeling (psychology) explained

Modeling is:

1. a method used in certain cognitive-behavioral techniques of psychotherapy whereby the client learns by imitation alone, copying a human model without any specific verbal direction by the therapist, and
2. a general process in which persons serve as models for others, exhibiting the behavior to be imitated by the others^{[1] [2]} This process is most commonly discussed with respect to children.

Study by Albert Bandura

The concept of behavioral modeling was most memorably introduced by Albert Bandura in his famous 1961 Bobo doll experiment. In this study, 72 children from ages three to five were divided into groups to watch an adult confederate (the model) interact with an assortment of toys in the experiment room, including an inflated Bobo doll. For children assigned the non-aggressive condition, the role model ignored the doll. For children assigned the aggressive condition, the role model spent the majority of the time physically aggressing the doll and shouting at it.

After the role model left the room, the children were given the opportunity to individually interact with similar toys. Children who observed the non-aggressive role model's behavior played quietly with the toys and rarely initiated violence toward the Bobo doll. Children who watched the aggressive role model were more likely to model themselves on that example by hitting, kicking, and shouting at the Bobo doll.^[3]

Factors influencing behavioral modeling

Psychological factors

Bandura proposed that four components contribute to behavioral modeling.^{[4] [5]}

1. Attention: The observer must watch and pay attention the behavior being modeled.
2. Retention: The observer must remember the behavior well enough to recreate it.
3. Reproduction: The observer must physically recreate the actions they observed in step 1.
4. Reinforcement: The observer's modeled behavior must be rewarded

Neurological factors

The mirror neuron system, located in the frontal lobe of the brain, is a network of neurons that become active when an animal either performs a behavior or observes that behavior being performed by another. For example, the same mirror neurons will become active when a monkey grasps an object as when it watches another monkey do so.^[6] While the significance of mirror neurons is still up for debate in the scientific community, there are many who believe them to be the primary biological component in imitative learning.^{[7] [8]}

In neuro-linguistic programming

Modeling is an important component of neuro-linguistic programming (NLP), which field has developed specialized techniques involving modeling.

See also

• Cognitive imitation
• Mimicry
• Mirror neuron
• Social cognition

Notes and References

1. VandenBoss, Gary (2006) APA Dictionary of Psychology. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association
2. Westen, D.; Burton, L. & Kowalski, R. (2006) Psychology: Australian and New Zealand Edition. Milton, QLD. John Wiley and Sons.
3. Bandura. Albert. 1961. Transmission of Aggression Through Imitation of Aggressive Models. https://web.archive.org/web/20180306125118/https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/3706/7acd33ad2ba2ed384baada06e7d74b800399.pdf. dead. 2018-03-06. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology. 63. 3. 575–582. Stanford University. 10.1037/h0045925. 13864605. 18361226 .
4. Brewer. Keri R.. 1998. Observational Learning Effectiveness as a Function of Model Characteristics: Investigating the Importance of Social Power. Journal of Social Behavior and Personality. 26. 1–10. 10.2224/sbp.1998.26.1.1.
5. Grusec. Joan E.. 1992. Social Learning Theory and Developmental Psychology: The Legacies of Robert Sears and Albert Bandura. Journal of Developmental Psychology. 28. 5. 776–786. 10.1037/0012-1649.28.5.776.
6. Hyeonjin. Jeon. 28 February 2018. From Neurons to Social Beings: Short Review of the Mirror Neuron System Research and Its Socio-Psychological and Psychiatric Implications. 5810456. Clinical Psychopharmacology and Neuroscience. 16. 1. 18–31. 10.9758/cpn.2018.16.1.18. 29397663.
7. Iacobono. Marco. 2009. Imitation, Empathy, and Mirror Neurons. Annual Review of Psychology. 60. 653–670. 10.1146/annurev.psych.60.110707.163604. 18793090.
8. Molnar-Szakacs. Istvan. 22 February 2005. Grasping the Intentions of Others with One's Own Mirror Neuron System. PLOS Biology. 3. 3. e79. 10.1371/journal.pbio.0030079. 15736981. 1044835 . free .